Shifting Out of My Comfort Zone: Lessons for the Mind, Body, and Soul

At the Four Seasons Wailea, on the healing island of Maui, I discovered a utopia. A luxury travel experience with a portal to self-growth. It is the Shift Mind Body Soul Retreat. A week-long program combining mindfulness, fitness, and health-conscious eating to shift your perspective and individually elevate and align your mind, body, and soul. I’m so grateful to be able to share highlights from my experience with you. Read on to see how I experienced a substantial and profound Shift and breakthrough.
“Your passion is waiting for your courage to catch up.” – Isabelle Lafleche

Shift was founded by Nicole Fogel after challenges with her personal health and well-being led her looking for answers. Bringing together a small group of women along with professionals who are at the top of their game in the health and wellness fields, she knew first hand the level of healing, the releasing of old habits and thought patterns would be a welcome for us all. Nicole created a program so each participant was offered an exclusive and individual experience with lessons designed to be assimilated into daily life once back home. Through Nicole’s own challenges with lupus, she found a way to heal and shift her health and share her journey with us. See the video testimonials below.

Day 1 - Rise and shine and away we went to Haleakala. Rising over 10,000 feet above sea level and known as the earth’s “Heart Chakra” this was the opener…literally, the heart opener we all shared together on our first day.

Every day was a chance to learn more about ourselves through a combination of activities, workshops, exercise, and healthy food. During the week It was an expansion of spiritual connections, a lot of laughter with the other participants and a wealth of information. As women sometimes we forget how powerful we are and sometimes we just need to be reminded.

The workshops alone are a reason to attend a Shift retreat. The industry experts are the rockstars from their chosen fields. Here we are with Elissa Goodman diving into nutrition along with Q & A where she shares her personal experience on beating cancer.

Getting ready to roll out all that “old-stuff” locked deep in your tissues that creates blocks and causes pain (definitely worth learning about) Lauren Roxburgh’s sessions work deep down. FYI - this works!

The line-up consisted of Peter Crone, Elissa Goodman, Erin Lotz, and Lauren Roxburgh, known as the “Body Whisperer.” Peter Crone, known as “The Mind Architect” -Peter’s mind-blowing insight (literally) and intuitive approach to spiritual healing are so profound and spot-on. Meeting Erin Lotz for the first time fills the mind and heart with love…literally. For the first time, in a long time, I found myself more mindful and present and I’m so grateful to bring her guidance back home.

On a personal note I had several experiences during my time at the retreat, but walking the labyrinth was by far my most profound. Have you ever experienced walking a labyrinth? This was my first time and I will honestly say I experienced a “shift” that’s personal and hard to put into words. I’ve attended a few retreats in the past and I’ve always had tremendous take-aways. This one snuck up on me, it felt as if it came out of nowhere but obviously it was living somewhere very deep and very real. It’s a fear, one that I’ve had since the age of 15 when I lost my father to a plane crash. While walking the labyrinth It all surfaced… with a vengeance, I might add. Without diving into the details I’ll share this; to expose your fears to a group of people you don’t know is a little scary, but it’s one of the most healing moments you’ll have - then to be hugged by those same people is a gift from the universe that keeps on giving. This was my SHIFT…my gift. There were moments, or let’s call them signs that continued to unfold that were related to my father throughout the week. These are moments that we get to have every day all day when we allow ourselves to listen and remain open. One of my favorite quotes of the week was from Peter Crone, he said “you have two ears, one mouth… just saying” Stop talking so much and start listening!! I loved this!

Each of the Hawaiian islands is known to hold a special gift. Maui’s particular gift is HEALING. Creating these bonds with the other women felt really kind. Hiking in the bamboo forest and connecting with mother nature was powerful. When the wind blows, the sounds of the bamboo stalks bumping into one another is almost musical.

I was able to explore this week-long transformation first hand along with my blogging partner and dear friend, the Glow Girl, Melissa Meyers. We were roomies during the retreat, and while we were both sharing the same day to day activities, workshops, laughing and crying together, our two experiences were very different. That’s the beauty of a Shift retreat…every person’s takeaway is unique. You get exactly what YOU need out of it and you have the opportunity to deepen what you already have.

*Reset, restore and connect with mother earth.

*Experience just the right amount of scheduling

*Yoga, Meditation, Paddle-Boarding, Sound Bath, Massage, Reiki-Healing, Hiking.

The growth I experienced from this week-long transformation was profound. I feel as though my deepest fear was brought to light and from that, I grew to a new level of learning to trust in what I can’t see or touch. A program like Shift Mind Body Soul provides incredible insight, healers, and professionals that allow you to walk away with tools so you can take the leap, let go and really feel alive. So in those moments when you’re feeling a little “upside-down” No worries, Shift Happens & LET IT GO…

Balance + Presence + Personal Growth = Shift Happens

To learn more about upcoming retreats with Shift visit the website watch this video testimonial and read other articles below. Photos are courtesy of Kelly Fogel - Video by Andrew Gallery.

Thank you to everyone behind the scenes and for showing up so fearlessly while sharing your Aloha Spirit. Aloha for reading and for making Shift happen!

xo Janet

Chalkbaord Magazine: "I Went on a Holistic Wellness Retreat + Here’s What Happened” by Ruthie Ackerman.

Forbes Women: "This Entrepreneur Turned Her Fight With Lupus Into A Wellness Movement” by Yola Robert

The Glow Girl Life: Make SHIFT Happen: “A Transformative Experience of the Mind, Body and Soul” by Melissa Meyers

P.S. - Don’t ever forget how truly amazing you are…